Bernice - Many thanks for restoring "permanent" to your definition!

Peter Tirrell

At 3:01 PM +1100 11/10/03, Bernice Murphy.com.au wrote:
>Responding to Milton Bloch (Friday 7 Nov 03 ) and request to Gary Edson
>(responding to your message Friday 7 Nov  03):
>
>Dear Milton and Gary,
>As I remarked to colleagues in my last message offered to the ICOM-L list,
>I also have had my own regrets each time I saw definition #1 again - that I
>had let the word "permanent" fall away in my effort to get the definition
>as short as possible.
>
>In fact my second (current) version is both shorter and slightly improves
>the conceptual arrangement of what I proposed at first.  I also believe -
>having reflected on other opinions offered - that whatever new definition
>is finally adopted, it should not be soft, abstract or vague, but clear and
>strong.  I stress 'strong' .
>
>I do believe "permanent" is better restored.
>
>Therefore my final request, Gary, is:
>
>>Suggestion #1 to include 'permanent' and therefore to read:
>>Museums are permanent institutions that serve society by promoting knowledge,
>>appreciation and conservation of the natural world and the cultural and
>>scientific heritage of humanity through collections, memories, sites and
>>processes they care for, research, and interpret for public benefit.
>
>Responding once more to Hans-Christoph von Imhoff (Thursday 6 Nov
>03).....and reference to  Peter Tyrell's message earlier (Mon. 3 Nov 03):
>
>You are right, Hans-Christoph, and I thank your for raising it: I did
>misunderstand Peter Tyrell's earlier reference, reading his message
>quickly, and assumed 'document' to be used as a noun.
>But I confirm that it IS very commonly used in English also as a verb.
>
>However I continue to be of the view that this important function - of
>'documenting' collections - is covered by the nuances of two terms already
>used in the suggestion I have offered:
>
>1. 'care for':  if we work with the public's already well-developed ideas
>about museums, 'care for' includes making good arrangements and good
>records of things that come into museums' control, temporarily or permanently;
>2. 'research': again arouses existing public knowledge about museums -
>which generally includes the idea that research would involve books
>(libraries) and record-keeping.
>
>Therefore I would still prefer to view 'documenting' as covered implicitly,
>and not wish to push it up to be included in the main definition.
>However, by restoring 'permanent' Peter T would no doubt be pleased, given
>his concern about this value appearing clearly.
>Thank you for your comments.
>Bernice Murphy
>
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